Ailing Ozawa drops more concerts

Conductor Seiji Ozawa, under treatment for esophageal cancer, will cancel the direction of an opera in August and a concert tour in Europe from mid-October but will conduct an orchestra in September in Nagano Prefecture, his agent said Friday.

Although Ozawa said in January he would rest until June due to the treatment, and that progress has been positive, the additional cancellations have been decided to avoid overburdening him while recuperating, the agent said.

“It’s very regrettable but I’d like to make assurances and be doubly sure by following the direction of my doctor,” Ozawa said in a comment released by the agent.

The affected events include the opera “Salome” to be performed on four days in late August during this year’s Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto, to be held Aug. 10 through Sept. 9 in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, and a European tour with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

However, on four days in early September he will as planned lead the Saito Kinen Orchestra as part of the annual festival honoring Hideo Saito, the late cellist and conductor who taught Ozawa.